Automatic regulator



AUTOMAT I C REGULAT OR Filed April 24 1922 Patenlted od. 9, 1923.V

UNITED vSTATES I 1,47o,z77 PATNT OFFICE.

ANDBEW B. LOFTUS, O' RCHBALD, PENNSYLVAIA..

UTOMATIC REGULATOB.

- Animation nleaaprn 24, 1922. serial No. 588,248.

To all 'whom tmay concem;

Be it known that I, ANDREW B. LoFrUs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Archbald, Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in an Automatic Regulator, of which the following is a specification, reference being\\had therein to the accompanyi'ng drawing.

This inventon comprises an automatic..

regulator. While its application is unrestricted, it is especially useful in maintaining a uniform speed of motor driven appliances and keeping the speed within certain redetermined limits, the arrangement 'belng such that when this limit is passed the motor will be shut ofl' and/an alarm sounded.

More specificall the, inventon relates to an association o an electrical cirouitl by which the motor is driven and a switch controlling the circuit, in such a way that the switch may be closed tov start the motor, and .a governor allowed to pass over aportion of the switch in one direction until the speed falls below a certain limit, when the governor will, in moving the opposite direction, actuate the switch to open the ciruit and at the same time close an alarm circuit. This' principle can be utilized to be operated at the .other limit, or when the speed has exceeded a certain predetermined limit, or by using two devices or a 'double switch both limits can be accommodated in the same apparatus.

Other objects and advantages will be brought out more fully in the description which follows. w

An embodilnent of the inventon which illustrates its principlesl generally, is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1, is a view in perspective showing an em'bodiment of my inventon the parts being in open or inoperative position and an alarm circuit in closed position;

Fi 2, is a detail view, partly in section showlng the switch in closed position and a portion of the switch in position to allow the governor to pass it in one direction;

a Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the portion of vthe switch set to resist passing of the governor in one direction to open the switch;

and w Fi 4, is a dia rammatic view illustratin t e circuit an general assembly.

n these views, 1 designates a motor for driving a shaft 2. Mounted on this shaft there is a governor element comprising a lar 3 through resilient spreader members 7 which are weighted centrally so that they spread under centrifugal action and this spreading is utilized to move collar 5 along the shaft in a well known manner.

Thls movement ofl collar 5 is utilized to open a switch which controls the motor circu 1t. As here shown current comes from a suitable source of supply -throughl leads 8 and 9, to suitable terminals 10, here shown as the socket members of a switch. These cooperate With the blades 11 'of a knife switch, the vblades being connected at their outer ends by a cross bar 12, and pivotedat their inner ends to terminals 13, from which extenslons or continuations of leads 8 and 9 arecarriedto the motor. Mounted on cross bar 12, there are two upstanding supporting members 14 which form a bearing for a shaft 15. This carries, intermediate the supports, a rocking latch mem'ber 16, and upon an end of the shaft an actuating lever 17. The latch member is triangular in cross section and is normally held in position shown in Fig. 3, and placed to be in the line of movement of the flange on collar 5.- ,For the actuating lever back in the position shown in Fig. v1. Ifthe lever is actuated to close the switch from the position shown in this figure, the first movement will be to tilt the latch member ,into the, position shown in Eig. 2. This permits it to pass under the.

fiange 6 on collar 5 and after having passed 'to be brought to the position shown in Fig.

3. When the motor starts the flange 6 on collar 5 will be moved to the left, overriding the slanted portion of the latch member,

I which tilts until the collar passes vthe edge of the latch, when it is brought .to upstanding position again under the action of the spring 18. Should the shaft slow down sufliciently to allow the collar 5 to move,

back to the right, this action will. bring flange 6 on the collar into engagement with the upstanding portion of latch membergl. This member being triangular in Shape, has a base portion normally in engagement with the cross bar 12, and movement of the flange to the right will 'Open the switch and stop the motor.

Means are also provided for closin an alarm circuit When this action takes p ace, and as here shown a third blade 19 is provided, being pivoted to a terminal which is connected to one of the leads, say 8. When the switch is in Open position, this blade is adaptel'to fit'a-'socket forming a part of another terminal 20.- This closes an alarm circuit which comprises lead 8', alarm21, and return wire 9' to lead 9.

Means are provided for quickly tbrowing switch into open position after it has been started under the action of flange 6, and 'as here shown there is secured to OneI of'the knife blades, intermediate its ends, one end of a spring 22. The other end Of this spring is attached to a hook 23 so placed that when the switch'is closed the tension will -be in a Vertical direction or neutral, but when the action of the flange 6 displaces the centre line by'moving the blades to the right, as in F ig. 1, tne spring will act to force the blades quickly in this direction. This action elimina-tes sparking and-assures quick and positive connection or closing of the alarm circuitthrough blade 19 .and terminal socket 20;

It will beunderstood that while the action speed isreduced beyond-a certain pre-determined limit, that by placing the latch member'at the other side so as to be actuated when the speed of the shaft exceeded a predetermined amount the circuit would be Opened and the motor stopped also. While it has been disclosed in the present embodiment, it will be 'understood that many changes in the general arrangement and construction-are icontemplated as being within the scope of' the invention as set forth in the clfiimsa 'i What I claim is:

1. An automatic regulator including a switch; a latch member-mounted on the switch; means associated with the switch and latch permitting an actuating instrumentality to Operate the latch in one direction without Operating the switch; and means for effecting operation of the switch when the latch is moved in another direction.

2;" An automatic regulator including a switch; a latch member tiltably mounted OnA the switch; 'a latch Operating instrumentality juxtaposed thereto, and means governed by the speed of an instrumentality for movin the latch Operating instrumentality; sai latch being tiltable in one direction without Operating the switch' 1 3. An' automatic regulator including a switch; a latch member tiltably mounted on the switch; a latch Operating instrumentality- -the latch and the switch normall latch, the Operating memberbein `and movesit in another direction.

1A. An automatic regulator including a switch; a latch member, tiltably mounted 'Onthe switch; a-latch' Operating instrumentality juxtaposed thereto and movable into and out of engagement with the latch whereby movement of the latch Operating instrumentality in One direction will tilt the latch and perinit the Operating instrumentality to ride Over the latch; and movement of the Operating instrumentality in another direction will engage 'a face of the latch and Operate the switch.

5. An automatic regulator including a switch; a latch member, tiltably mounted on the switch; alatch Operating instrumentality juxtaposed thereto and movable into and out of engagement with the latch whereby movement of the latch Operating instrumentality in one direction will tilt the latch and permit the Operatin instrumentality to ride over the latch; an movement of the Operatin instrumentality in another direction wil engage a face of the latch and Operate the switch; and means associated with the latch and the switch for normally holding the latch in the path of travel of the Operating means to be Operated thereby in one direction.

6. An automatic regulator includin a switch; a latch member, tiltably mounted On the switch; a latch Operating instrumentality juxtaposed .thereto and movable into and Out of engagement with, the latch whereby movement Of the latch Operating instrumentality in one direction will tilt the latch and permit the. operatin instrumentality to ride Over the latch; an movement Of the Operatin instrumentality in another direction wil engage a face of the latch and Operate the switch; means associated with holding the latch in the path of travel of t e Operating means to be operated thereby in One direction; and an Operaitng lever associated with the latch for manually Operating the switch and latch.

7. An automatic regulator comprising a switch; a latch member tiltably mounted On the switch; a speed governor including a latch Operating member, juxtaposed to the movable in relation to the latch; said latch eing tiltable in'one direction without-.Operating the switch; and movementh of the. Operating member in another directioneflecting a connection between the memberand switch to Operate the letter.

8. An automatic regulator comprising a switch; movement of the Operating member switch; a latch member tilt'ably mounted On in another direction efiecting a. connection the switch; a speed governor including a between the member und switch to O erate 10 latch Operating member, juxtaposed to the ;he letter; and a lever .on the latc for 5 latch, the Operating member being movable manually Operating the latch and switch.

in relation to the latch; said latch being tilt- In testimony whereof I eflix my signature. able in one direction without Operating the ANDREW B. LOFTUS. 

